Brush: Natural fibers; dense, typically use a large “Powder” or “Dome” brush

Finish: Matte to Natural

My color: Medium Beige + Light

So I put “Original” in bold. Why? Because I hate the Matte one. Matte looks great on deeper skin tones, but for me just didn’t do the trick. (It is also about 2 shades darker than the Original formula) I actually used the Original BE formula for about 7 years. It was my first foundation I got for my 16th birthday! This stuff is great. Buildable, leaves a natural, dewy finish. Lasts all day and the only touch ups you should need is if you have oily skin (just some blotting). It is not desired to put this foundation in your purse to do touch ups as it is fairly messy to open up. If you use a liquid concealer be careful, as this powder will build up on top of the concealer the more you buff it in. I would recommend using the BE concealer (Bisque and Well Rested) if you need some extra coverage or wish to cover blemishes underneath. I have not tried their new pressed foundations, as I started preferring liquids. The reason I stopped wearing Bare Minerals is that it made my face itchy in hot weather! A lot of women prefer wearing Bare Minerals because of the simplified list of ingredients- I never really cared! Once I started experimenting with liquids and investing more in makeup, I started liking the liquids more. I still recommend this foundation to beginners, teens, and people who don’t want to spend a fortune on makeup. (this stuff lasts FOREVER)

Mac Mineralized Skin Finish Natural – PRESSED

Coverage: Light-Medium

Cost: $30 for .35oz

Commitment: Low

Skin type: Normal to Combination/Oily

Brush: Synthetic fibers; typically use a large “Powder” or “Dome” brush

Finish: Matte to Natural

My color: Medium Plus

By itself, this foundation delivers a soft, natural coverage. Even though I never touch up during the day with foundation, this compact easily fits into your purse and is mess free if you desire to do so (you will still need to be able to cram a brush into your purse, too!) Many makeup artists use this powder as a finishing powder for liquid foundations. They only have 10 shades, but since they aren’t full coverage, they tend to blend nicely on many different skin tones. This particular foundation is the one I bring with me on vacations where I will be on the beach all day and don’t want to mess with liquids. If you want a quick natural finish foundation, this is the one!

Mac Mineralized Foundation – LOOSE

Cost: $31 for 7.5g

Commitment: Medium

Skin type: Normal to Combination/Oily

Brush: Synthetic fibers; dense, typically use a large “Powder” or “Dome” brush

Finish: Matte to Natural

My color: Medium Plus

I have always loved loose powders over compacts, I feel like I have more control of how full the coverage is, and how much I get on my brush. I LOVE this loose powder as I use it as my setting powder everyday. This one is a bit fuller coverage than the Mac Mineralized compact. Although this finish is matte, it is still dimensional and has a bit of a natural looking sheen to it. Over the years, I have gone from craving an ultra-matte look to preferring the softer semi-matte finish. I still go over my t-zone with a white matting powder, and add highlight to my cheek bones. This foundation lasts over a year for me, but only because I lightly dust it over my liquid everyday. If I used it as my main foundation, it would probably last around 6-8 months. It is messy, so it doesn’t go ANYWHERE besides my vanity. When I travel, a large amount of product makes its way above the sifter, making it so I have to be cautious of not spilling it!

Mac Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation – PRESSED

Coverage: Full

Cost: $27 for 15g or .52oz

Commitment: Low/Medium

Skin type: Any; works great for oily skin

Brush: Synthetic fibers; typically use a large “Powder” or “Dome” brush

Finish: Matte

My color: C2 in the winter, NC25 in the summer

This stuff is the bomb. I couldn’t decide how to rate this product’s commitment level. On one hand, it offers an all in one deal. The foundation, a mirror, and a sponge to apply are all packed into the compact. I would never use the sponge to apply it because I am totally a brush snob. On the other hand, this product has over 40 shades, making it a challenge to find the correct color. Since it is full coverage, it is very important that you get the right shade. If possible, I would go to a free-standing Mac store near you and do multiple swatches on the underside of your forearm to get your undertone. Once you have that narrowed down, do some swatches on your neck/jaw to find the right shade. I’m sure the ultra friendly Mac artist will be more than happy to assist you! This stuff gives you full coverage with just one application and lasts all day. It helps oil control as well. If you prefer matte full coverage, this is the foundation for you!